Dublin

▲▲▲ Book of Kells in the Trinity Old Library Exquisite illuminated manuscript, the most important piece of art from the Dark Ages.

▲▲▲ National Museum of Archaeology Excellent collection of Irish treasures from the Stone Age to today.

▲▲▲ Kilmainham Gaol Historic jail used by the British as a political prison — today a museum that tells a moving story of the suffering of the Irish people.

▲▲ Historical Walking Tour of Dublin Group tour that makes for the best introduction to Dublin.

▲▲ Traditional Irish Musical Pub Crawl Fascinating, practical, and enjoyable primer on traditional Irish music.

▲▲ Trinity College Campus Tour Ireland's most famous school, best visited with a 30-minute student-led tour.

▲▲ Chester Beatty Library American expatriate's sumptuous collection of literary and religious treasures from Islam, Asia, and medieval Europe.

▲▲ Temple Bar Dublin's rowdiest neighborhood, with shops, cafés, theaters, galleries, pubs, and restaurants — a great spot for live traditional music.

▲▲ O'Connell Street Dublin's grandest promenade and main drag, packed with history and ideal for a stroll.

▲▲ EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum Creative displays about the Irish diaspora that highlight the impact emigrants make on their new homelands.

▲▲ 14 Henrietta Street Time capsule of urban Dublin life, following the 150-year decline of an aristocratic Georgian townhouse into a tenement slum.

▲ National Gallery of Ireland Fine collection of top Irish painters and European masters.

▲ Dublin Castle Once the city's historic 700-year-old castle, now a Georgian palace, featuring ornate English state apartments.

▲ Dublin City Hall and "Story of the Capital" Exhibit Grand 18th-century building occupied by rebel Irish forces in the 1916 Easter Rising.

▲ Christ Church Cathedral Neo-Gothic cathedral on the site of an 11-century Viking church.

▲ Dublinia Fun, kid-friendly look at Dublin's Viking and medieval past with a side order of archaeology and a cool town model.

▲ St. Patrick's Cathedral According to legend, the holy site where St. Patrick first baptized Irish converts.

▲ Jeanie Johnston Tall Ship and Famine Museum Floating exhibit on the River Liffey explaining the famine period that prompted desperate transatlantic crossings (by tour only).

▲ Dublin Writers Museum Collection of authorial bric-a-brac.

▲ GPO Witness History Exhibit Immersive presentation on the 1916 Easter Rising and its impact on Irish history, situated in the General Post Office building that served as rebel headquarters.

▲ Guinness Storehouse Home of Ireland's national beer, with a museum of beer-making, a gallery of clever ads, and Gravity Bar with panoramic city views.

▲ National Museum of Decorative Arts and History Shows off Irish dress, furniture, silver, and weaponry with a special focus on the 1916 rebellion, fight for independence, and civil war.

▲ Gaelic Athletic Association Museum High-tech museum of traditional Gaelic sports (hurling and Irish football).

• Ireland: Recommended Itinerary
• When to Go to Ireland
• Upcoming Holidays and Festivals in Ireland
• Guidebook Updates for Ireland
• Ireland Rail Passes and Train Tips
• Ireland: Recommended Books and Movies